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Fluvoxamine for somatoform disorders: an open trial

R Noyes¹, R L Happel, B A Muller

¹Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, USA.

General Hospital Psychiatry

|December 17, 1998

Summary

Antidepressants like fluvoxamine showed modest benefits for somatoform disorders in a small study. Sixty-one percent of patients experienced moderate improvement, suggesting potential for further research into pharmacologic treatments.

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Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Pharmacology
General Medicine

Background:

Pharmacologic treatments for somatoform disorders are under-investigated.
Antidepressants are hypothesized to be potentially effective.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine the efficacy and tolerability of fluvoxamine in patients with somatoform disorders.
To assess the response rate to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in a general medicine setting.

Main Methods:

A study involving 29 patients diagnosed with somatoform disorders.
Treatment with fluvoxamine at doses up to 300 mg daily for 8 weeks.
Assessment of patient improvement after at least 2 weeks of medication.

Main Results:

61% of patients who received medication for at least 2 weeks showed moderate or greater improvement.
Fluvoxamine demonstrated beneficial effects beyond antidepressant actions.
The medication was generally well-tolerated by the study participants.

Conclusions:

Fluvoxamine offers modest benefits for somatoform disorders.
The positive outcomes suggest that drug therapy may be a viable treatment option.
A placebo-controlled trial is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.